Archive for the ‘Lingerie’ Category

London based designer Marios Schwab has designed his first underwear collection, Kallisti. The capsule collection is a modern range of mesh bras (£35) and briefs (£20), and a body (£50) that come in jet black, bold coral and bright mustard. It is being sold exclusively at ASOS.

It’s almost time for that one day of the year when couples feel the pressure of ‘being romantic because someone said so (rumour has it Hallmark ‘invented’ it to sell more greeting cards..) and singletons either feel a) miserable because they haven’t got someone special to share chocolates and champagne with or b) put on their best ‘I really don’t care’ face and get on with their life.

Now for us Valentine’s is not so much about the ‘lovey dovey let’s show the rest of the world that we’re ever so in love’, but the fact that we can splurge on new investments for our lingerie collection. OK we do that whenever we feel like it – coupled up or not – but it’s always great to have an extra excuse for bringing out the plastics. We’re talking cards not PVC – though there’s nothing wrong with the latter…

Lingerie obsessed as we are, we’ve scoured the web to find some of the most delicate, seductive and darn cute underwear options available, so that you can drop hints or click buy in good time for Valentine’s Day. Happy shopping!

Exciting news for those of you who love lingerie with a vintage twist! As of today, you can buy the Dita Von Teese Von Follies collection at Debenhams. True to the Burlesque star signature style and ‘inspired by her own vintage lingerie wardrobe’, the glamorous collection features corsets, bustiers, balcony bras, garter belts and high-waisted briefs.

Dita comments: “I wanted to create pieces that enhance the feminine silhouette and make each woman who wears my range feel sexy and glamorous. Each piece is homage to femininity and a reflection of my love of vintage glamour.”

We can see this collection will be a big hit, especially leading up to Christmas. So if you want to indulge, best get your order in now!

Von Follies bra sizes range from an A-cup to E-cup, and briefs up to size 20. The collection is available at Debenhams from today. Prices range from £16 for briefs and £30 for bras.

It’s that time of year again: when the rest of us wrap up warm to face the autumn chill and the Victoria’s Secret Angels show of their curves and the latest lingerie from the label at an elaborate catwalk show.

This year, those present were treated to the latest designs, complete with angel wings, as well as guest performances by Rihanna, Bruno Mars and Justin Bieber… Is Bieber even old enough to attend a Victoria’s Secret show?!?!

You’d be correct in thinking I have an obsession with lingerie. Well-designed lingerie is one of the most beautiful things a woman can wear and when it fits right it can make you feel like a Hollywood starlet even on the greyest of days.

This morning I stumbled across Canadian label Fortnight, which ‘combines strong, sexy aesthetics with highly tailored sizing to create undergarments that are both luxurious and versatile’.

The 2012 collection looks dreamily romantic with dash of vintage glamour. Why not give your outfits the foundation they need?

Fortnight is available in sizes 38-38, A-E and, sadly, is by the looks of it, only currently available in selected American and Canadian stores and online.

Tying in nicely with yesterday’s launch of the first Victoria’s Secret flagship store – or should we say boudoir – in the UK, Victoria’s Secret Angel, British beauty Rosie Huntington-Whiteley has created a vintage inspired lingerie range for Marks & Spencer, the high-street chain she’s currently the face of.

Entitled Rosie for Autograph, the line comprises of 33 luxurious pieces including silk lingerie sets (from £50), a teddy (£35), and a kimono style robe (£65). Prints come in the form of soft toned roses as well as art deco inspired items for that vintage glamour feel.

After much anticipation and some delays, US lingerie giant Victoria’s Secret is opening their London flagship today, 29 August, when the Angels will convene in a four-story store on the corner of New Bond Street and Brook Street.

The brand was until recently only available to Brits visiting the US, with its first endeavour in the UK market being a Westfield Stratford store which opened just before the Olympics.

We’re wondering what celebrations are planned, but we wouldn’t be surprised if a couple of Angels descend on London today.

Whether you’re heading to the beach or just staying at home (well you might be better off going abroad with the summer weather we’ve been having here in Britain), these Liberty print lingerie sets will look darling – and they’re eco conscious too!

Eco fashion label Ciel has teamed up with quintessential London store Liberty to re-issue these gorgeous Liberty printed camisole and knickers. The capsule lingerie collection is made from sensuous silk and organic cotton. The camisole and knickers sets are available in Indian tribal feather headdress print in shell pink with denim or hot pink with taupe and black, or Stars & Unicorn in creamy peach with taupe print on a black background.

The camisoles are priced at £54.95 and knickers at £24.95 and are available to buy from By Nature.

Not content with trying to revamp the British highstreet Mary Portas is at it again.

In her latest adventure she’s decided to encourage people to buy British manufactured clothing and save our factory communities.

And her great big idea- to make a line of British manufactured knickers.

We can see the sentiment and we can understand why she’s doing this- we’d all like to see Britain’s manufacturing and retail business boom again – but we can’t see how pants will really help, unless of course the are the ones attached to Superman.

Unfortunately they are not. Instead their niche is that they are made in a British factory but that brings with it a higher price then their foreign rivals.

And after the hype has died down is this really an incentive that’s going to work in the longterm? Will we suddenly decide that the £10 per pair Kinky Knickers range is worth the extra pounds? Yes they are cute and sexy and have a cheeky message sewn in the gusset, but is this better than the £3 pair at La Senza and Topshop?

I know I speak for many when I say if you’re going to spend a fortune on undies you’d rather go down the Rigby and Peller route.

And deep down do many of us care that we are wearing knickers made in Britain? According to the Big Bloomers company, not really.

Dianne Mannering a director at the company, pointed out that there were still a few knicker manufacturers in the UK – Big Bloomers being one- despite Mary Portas claiming the opposite.

Ms Mannering told ShinyStyle: “When buying knickers people don’t care where they come from, as long as they fit a purpose and this is especially true for us as we make our knickers especially for bigger sizes.

“The one positive aspect about manufacturing in the UK is that we can easily control the manufacture and design. If we don’t like something we can literally go and jump on the designing desk and get it changed, something that can’t be done if the manufacture is in China.

“Overall however this is just a publicity stunt, Mary Portas isn’t filling a niche here, although we think we are with our plus size knickers. We’ll be interested to see what the programme brings.”

And she’s right, there are also a few more Brit made undies like those from Fred and Ginger.

It would be nice to think that this new venture would revolutionise the way we think about British manufacturing. Of course Mary Portas believes it will claiming in her Sun column today that “spending habits are showing people are buying quality over quantity.”

She likened the new idea to the food industry that “tackled this issue ten years ago with the push to buy free-range chicken and eggs.”

Hmmm we’re not sure the nation is as fussy about what they put on their bodies as they are with what they put in them.

What do you think about this new venture? Will it work? Do you like the knickers and would you spend more money on a Brit pair of pants?

Victoria's Secret Fashion Show 2011

Miranda Kerr walks the runway during the 2011 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show held at the Lexington Armory in New York City, New York on November 9, 2011.

The 2011 Victoria’s Secret show took place in New York last night, and as expected voluptuous models took to the catwalk to showcase 69 amazing looks (err do we sense a bit of humour by the lingerie brand there..).

Well-known angels – and bodies – like Alessandra Ambrosio and Doutzen Kroes showed they still got it, but all eyes were on Miranda Kerr who strutted her post-baby figure (much to her hubby Orlando Bloom’s delight) in the Fantasy Treasure Bra, which is bejewelled with over $2.5 million worth of diamonds and pearls.

The OTT show reportedly cost a staggering $12 million to produce – quite horrible really when thinking of the tragic state of the European economy – and no expenses were spared to create the costumes.

Guests were treated to performances by Maroon 5 and Nicki Minaj, as well as a surprise appearance by Jay-Z who joined Kanye West on stage.

Why have I not come across this lingerie label before?! Fleur of England brings luxurious fabrics from all over the world to the UK where Fleur Turner and her lingerie designer team create sensuous garments that are made to fit perfectly, flatter the shape of your body and look exquisite.

This year, to mark their 10th anniversary the luxury lingerie label has designed five distinctive collections to fit different moods: fiercely feminine, powerful, romantic, playful and luxurious.

I love this London based lingerie brand that mixes quirky, pin-up inspired design with all things playful, flirty and even a little bit dirty’.

Playful Promises was first set up by Emma Parker in 2004 and recently opened a Soho boutique which is home to its stunning vintage lingerie, gifting and swimwear lines. It’s definitely worth stopping by to stock up on gorgeous lingerie that is sure to keep things hot during the cold winter months.

Josephine De La Baume has spoken out about her experience fronting an Agent Provocateur campaign – and the French superbeauty loved it.

Josephine, who is an actress/model and also the gorgeous fiancée of Mark Ronson, found that doing the raunchy AP photoshoot made her feel sexy, powered and confident, as she felt that the lingerie that she modelled showed off the best parts of her figure.

She said: “I worked closely with Johan Renck, the director, so it felt like a collaboration. People say these brands objectify women, but I think Agent Provocateur is empowering. The clothes help you to carry your body with pride.”

I’d like to feel empowered with a little help from Agent Provocateur, but I can’t even afford a G-string from there – lucky old Josephine probably got to keep lots of knickers from the shoot. Looks like it’s empowered in Primark for me then..

Birdy

The other day we were given a personal tour of the Passionata showroom to preview their 2011 Autumn-Winter collection, and we’ll happily admit that we’ve already put a couple of items on our wish list.

Modelled by Bar Refaeli – the ex of Leonardo DiCaprio – Passionata AW11 presents an exquisite new collection for the fall season, full of sensuality and glamour, paying homage to the pin-up girl.

“Flirtatious and full of cheerful energy, this winter, the pin-up wants eye-catching colours that will make her figure stand out: stormy blue, thunder blue-green or klein blue; sophisticated aubergine; frivolous pink, and poppy red transforming the pin-up into a bird of paradise.

Featuring contrasting lace and stripes with a slight twist of masculinity, Lovely Passio is an everyday line, the absolute favourite of neo-tomboys hoping to be effortlessly charming…

More couture-styled, with bird feather embroidered tulle and shoulder details that look like cute little wings, the pin-up is well aware that Birdy makes sexy rhyme with poetry.

Finally, she brings out the burlesque spirit with Charisma and So Smoking, two new retro-glam lines, one featuring high-waisted panties and a bandeau bra, and another a very British floral print combined with tulle.”